Title: Warm Hands, Leaky Hearts
Fandom: Uta No Prince-Sama
Rating: G
Length: 1035 Words
Content Notes: Set any time during the current canon. Warnings for heart disease and hospitalization.
Author Notes: Written during my ongoing two week hospital stay. Blah.
Summary: Syo pushes himself too hard and forgets to take his meds, so he blacks out and winds up in the hospital with his friends all fretting over his well being. His childhood friend, Natsuki, is the first person he sees and feels compelled to apologize to.

His nose twitches.

Smells like disinfectant.

Light and color slowly leak into his bleary vision as his eyes flutter open. A telltale series of 'beeps' and 'boops' march to a steady but weak rhythm somewhere beside him. His right arm feels really cold and he glances down to see why.

A pediatric butterfly needle connected to an IV. So, that's where he ended up.

"Syo-chan!"

Natsuki, he thinks with a smile once he lifts his head enough to catch a glimpse of the man standing vigil at his bedside. "Hey, there."

His band mate and longtime childhood friend isn't sporting his routine goofball demeanor which can only mean one thing. The way he hunches over in his chair and the relief in his eyes while he looks Syo over says plenty.

"You had us all worried," Natsuki begins and leans over to tuck a Piyo-chan plush between Syo's side and the bed railing. He smooths some of Syo's bangs from his face and adds, "It's okay, though. You've stabilized and the worst is past."

Syo sinks into his pillow and mutters, "I overdid it."

Natsuki sighs and strokes the top of his head. "You don't need to think about that right now. Just concentrate on getting well again."

"I did, though," Syo continues as the weight on his chest compounds tenfold. "I missed an important dose of my meds, stayed up too late, and you all paid the price for it."

"Stop it, silly," Natsuki scolds him gently and winks at him. "If you don't cheer up soon then I'll be forced to take drastic measures."

Syo stammers, "But I -- "

"You have a heart condition and it's not your fault," Natsuki reminds him with a tap to the end of his nose. "Oh, and I almost forgot! Kaoru is flying in from Tokyo to see you, too! He'll be here in about an hour."

Pink heat creeps into Syo's cheeks as he burns with embarrassment. "Where is everyone else?"

"In the lobby," Natsuki chirps with a grin. "You're such a lucky boy, ne? Loved by so many people! That's my Syo-chan!"

Syo pulls the Piyo-chan plush into his arms and holds it close to his face to hide the fact that he's three shades brighter than before. It's hard to feel guilty or unwell when so much love is being heaped upon you.

"You looked so cute while you were sleeping, too," coos his friend with a more knowing smile this time. He chuckles as Syo's brow twitches and he leans down to pinch his cheek. "I just love you so, so much."

After a few minutes, Syo mutters, "I'm sorry, Natsuki."

"Cardiac syncope due to arrythmia is what the doctor called it," Natsuki murmurs and continues to run his fingers through those fluffy, golden tresses he has adored since he can remember. His gaze softens as it meets Syo's. "Either way, I'll have to keep a more watchful eye on you, ne? Been a little lax in my duties of late."

Syo's eyes widen. "What the heck are you talking about? I was the one who pushed myself too far and forgot about my meds!"

"Oh, Syo," Natsuki says with a sigh and his voice drops into a more serious octave that Syo only hears when it's the two of them together. "You know how much I love you and that means I'm responsible for you."

A little blip echoes over the heart monitor.

"All of you," Natsuki finishes succinctly and takes Syo's hand in his. "That means I'll have to set alarms for your meds again and force you to go to bed at a curfew, but oh well. Nothing we haven't done before."

Syo sighs and groans, "A punishment I deserve, I guess."

Natsuki looks up from his grim musing with a perplexed expression. "I'm not punishing you, Syo-chan! I could never be so mean!"

A shadow falls over Syo's face once he realizes just what he insinuated and started. He lifts his hand before Natsuki can start tearing up and apologizes, "W-What I meant was that I need to be watched sometimes because I lose sight of things and forget my limitations. I would be punishing myself."

"How about no punishing at all," Natsuki sings and leans down to press his lips to Syo's chubby cheek. He pulls away with a frown. "You're awfully cold."

Syo shivers and agrees, "Yeah because it's like ten degrees in here. Could you adjust the thermostat?"

Natsuki happily nods and gets up to look around the room for the object in question. It's posted by a cabinet of supplies and he sets the temperature to what their dorm room normally is because he knows that is what Syo is most comfortable at. He rummages through the cabinets until he finds another blanket and he tucks it around Syo just the way he likes it, all snug around his grippy socks but not too tight so that he has wiggle room.

"Perfect," he notes, satisfied with how cuddly his friend looks. "Ah, I wanna jump in bed with you so badly..."

Syo laughs and smiles. "You could hold my hand."

Natsuki's eyes light up like a stage. "R-Really? You want me to?"

"I said so, didn't I?" Syo teases him a little and reaches to take his hand this time. He uses his other hand to heft the Piyo-chan plush against his chest for extra warmth. "Wanna see if there are any action flicks or cartoons on TV?"

Natsuki feels like a kid again, giddy and reassured, and he takes the remote from Syo's bedside with a chirp. The hand in his is small and cold, strong and able. He gives it a squeeze and grins down at his soon-to-be boyfriend with a wink.

Syo's pulse flutters along to the drip-drip-drop of the IV and the warmth pierces the lump in his chest so that all those nasty burdens slowly leak out like draining an infection.

"Thanks, Natsuki."

The older boy regards him fondly as his eyes narrow and he raises that hand to his lips like the prince he is.

"Ever and always," Natsuki whispers and kisses his hand. "I love you, Syo-chan."